The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-20
The. Great Society Question as to Status Of
Fashionable Mrs. Charles DenniSon-Is or
Is She Not Professional Actress?
Henry Ward Beecher on Exhibition at a
Ladies' Fair in Plymouth Church.
Two Fifth-Avenue Girls and Their Troubles
with Pigs Head-St Valentine at a Dis
count-Plain English Growing Popular.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK. Feb. ia fight with ounce
gloves between ladies, heavy weights of fashion
and society, is the talk of the modsh circles
The affair grew in gossip to several distinct and
ensanguined rounds. but careful investigation,
extending clear back to actual spectators, dwin-
dies it down to gcrimmage Of no more than
five seconds. But fstic encounter it unde-
niably The unposted reader could not in
thousand times trying guess what it is that
excites our shoppers to the most frantic physical
antagonism. 1t is the sight of real bargain
counter in thechina department of a big store
Several of the immense retail fancy establish
ments keep conspicuous long table exclusive
to the sale of things below value. Every day
it is stocked anew. The utmost secrecy is main
tanned as to what the forthcoming offerings
to be- Only the managers know beforehand.
The clerks are not told. Suddenly lot of goods
will be transferred to the bargain counter and
ticketed with figures far below usual ones Then
there is rush of shoppers, depending for vim
on the character of the things displayed. But
nothing begins with croekery in raising mob of
wild buyers. So true is this that. in several
stores, remnants of stock are not always waited
for but perfect articles sacrificed at qurter
value in order to raise the desired STIR 1t is
| merely a form of advertising. Some
inveterate shoppers hunt the bargains
daily. The appearance Of porters laden
with decorated pieces of chinaware is
signal for a pell-mell rush such masculine
scramble for a free luncheon surely ever
equaed. Richly dressed women, who have
alighted at the store from carriages, are fran
tic those to whom the reduction in price
! makes any real difference. There seems to be
monomania on the subject. The crockery is
snatched from the clerks hands before touching
the counter, and have seen baskets emptied in
a jffy.
Well, it was under the stress and strain of one
| of these tumultuous occasions that the tempers
of the two Fifth avenue matrons broke. Both
| simultaneously grabbed fragile china dish and
said she'd take that. Neither would let go.
Their words became sharp their color red, their
nerves twit:hy and their. muscles strenuous
The dish was fractured. That meant defeat for
both. The kid glove of one was torn by the
| broken edge.
Scratch me, will you9' she exclaimed choos-
ing to accept the slight hurt as intentional "I'l
| show YOU"
| What she showed was her two hands, with
which she pushed the enemy. Tho other retail
ated with clutch of raiment, and got shaking
up of her own millinery in return. Then the
ioor-walker separated them. and they went into
the private Office to have hysteric fits. Those
are the facts. and the reader would esteem them
more important if the names were also given
| ~
| Society is torn by the question Of Mrs
! Charles Dennisons status. Nothing at all has
| happened to her morals. She is the same hand
some, accomplished, charming belle that she
was when she conquered Murray Hill admira-
| tion in amateur theatrcals three years ago.
| She was clever actress, and she played in the
| same sets with the most fashonably approved
| OF our performers. Then she went into regu-
lar theater company, at Of New York's
most approved houses, and during the run of a
drama was its heroine, wearing wondrous
toilets and winning additional aduation. It
was an adventure, an exploit, and was never
| intended to last long After it was over Mrs
Dennison ION the professional stage she was
called Mathilde Madison) retired to her usual
exquisite private life. This season she has ap-
peared in amateur theatricals for charity. On
the last of these occasions she was twit,ed by a
on the regular stage. Oh, it was daintilv
done.
"You are playing admirably tonight said
the assailant; 'but then, really, they can't ex.
pect us amateurs to equal you professionals"
So the point was raised. Talk ensued of ex.
cluding Mrs. Dennison from future perform
ances, along with two actors whose admission
had caused complaint; and the upshot is some
thing very like row.
Henry Ward Beecher's lady parishioners bavo
been holding fair in Plymouth Church. and
the pastor has been there every evening assist.
ing 10 make things pleasant Admission was
free one day and evening, and many people, who
did not care to buy tides and had no particular
interest in voting afghans to popular girls, went
just to see Bsecher. He spent most of his time
in the gallery. where refreshments were served.
sitting with his back against the table and swan.
ping stories with gentleman who wore skull
| cap and did most of the talking When Mr..
| Beecher told an anecdote he did so with eusto.
and thumped the back of his chair with mis- fist:
aud when the other man made good point, the
broad shoulders of tho preacher heaved with
mirth. But Papa Beecher realized that it was
the hope of seeing him that kept the throng OF
people wandering about. and he came out fro m
his quiet nook and stood upon the top of the GAL
lery steps with his friend, surveying the
scene, chatting. and giving the crowd
an opportunity to inspect him. Beecher's
appearance indicated perfect health and
strength. His face was ruddy, and his ewes
clear and his frame sturdy as ever Onlv ia
his snow-white hair, getting rather thin, did he
show his seyenty odd years. When he smiled
Le was the personi6cation of iovial, unctuous
good nature, and when he scowled he look ed
like man with whom it wonid be unpleasant to
| uuarra His faca was that of q Strnn o. n ruraa